Coast Guard base meant that the school remained open. The Coast Guard officially adopted Cape May Elementary in 2012. Richard Degener of The Press of Atlantic City wrote "What has always been a symbiotic relationship has grown downright cozy". In 2020 the district gave some land to the city government so the latter could establish a park. In 2020 the Cape May and West Cape May School District began sharing a single superintendent. In Summer 2021 Zach Palumbo became the shared superintendent of both the Cape May City and West Cape May districts. Operations As of 2013, the taxpayers of Cape May spend under $1.5 million annually, while the Coast Guard spends about $700,000 annually to support the school. In 2021 there were plans to establish a dedicated path for bicycles between the Coast Guard base and the school so children living on-base have a safer way to travel to school. By June the plans were suspended. Student body the average student population was around 150. Most students in the district come from the Coast Guard base, with 60% coming from there in 2016. Palumbo stated, as paraphrased by Bill Barlow of Press of Atlantic City, "it is unlikely the school could remain open" without the Coast Guard students. Circa 2013 the percentage of Coast Guard students hovered between 43% and 62%. The percentage of students who come from Coast Guard families has been up to 65%. In 2013 there were 144 students, with 74 being from Coast Guard families. At one time only 25 of the students only came from non-Coast Guard families in Cape May. In 2016, 25% of students were non-public housing residents who resided elsewhere on Cape May while 15% came from Cape May public housing. Two children were homeless and one lived in Cape May Point. School and former schools Cape May City Elementary School serves students in grades PreK-6. The school served 175 students as of the 2017-18 school year. Its capacity is 227. Zachary Palombo, Superintendent Cape May City Elementary School The school historically had a playground designed for older children. Circa 2013 it spent $40,000 to build a playground designed for younger children. Since 25 volunteers from the Coast Guard built the playground, the school administration saved on labor costs and had a larger playground built. The playground is used by community groups. The school also has a pool, a library, and